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Every autumn, around October or November, the otherwise unassuming rural hilltop village of Canjáyar in the province of Almería has a public fiesta based on spitting olive pips and other crazy olive-based fun.

 

It's no secret that Spain has many weird and wonderful local fiestas that celebrate strange aspects of culture in different parts of the country, from burning topical statues in the city centre to having wine battles.

 

In Canjáyar, an olive-growing region in the mountainous inland area of Almería, the local Olive Day fiesta – which is normally held towards the end of November – includes a one-of-a-kind competition that consists of seeing which contestant can spit an olive stone the furthest, among other things.

 

The winner of this olive-spitting contest often wins a prize such as a large bottle of high-quality, extra virgin olive oil – worth its weight in gold! Everyone is welcome to come and try their hand (or their mouth) at launching the olive pips as far as they can, but be warned: it's not as easy as it sounds. There are local champions who train for the event year-round and can spit the stones as far as 25 metres!

 

The fiesta also features live music from 'Charangas' or bands who walk around the streets playing folk favourites, not to mention great artisan cheeses, cured meats and 'turrón' sweets. Plus, as at any Spanish fiesta, there is plenty of drinking and often some activities involving animals, such as donkey shows.

 

It is free to go along to the fiestas of Canjáyar, but the food, drink and activities for children such as bouncy castles all cost money, of course.

 

This is just one of many unique local fiestas in the tiny inland hamlets of Almería, among which the orange-squeezing festival in nearby Gádor stands out for its free, freshly squeezed orange juice streaming out of the town's fountains!